Los Angeles Pierce College to UCLA
Mechanical Engineering Transfer Plan
Pierce College covers 10 of UCLA's 11 required Mechanical Engineering courses. MECH&AE 82, Mathematics of Engineering, has no Pierce match, and UCLA wants prep finished by the end of spring before you enroll.
From
Los Angeles Pierce College
To
UCLA
Mechanical EngineeringMajor Requirements
Mechanical Engineering Major Preparation
Courses at Los Angeles Pierce College that satisfy UCLA's Mechanical Engineering major preparation, mapped and verified by Transfermatic's transfer engine.
| Course at Los Angeles Pierce College | Satisfies at UCLA | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 102 + CHEM 101 — General Chemistry II + General Chemistry I | CHEM 20A, CHEM 20B, CHEM 20L | 10 |
| MATH 261 — Calculus I | MATH 31A — Differential and Integral Calculus | 5 |
| MATH 262 — Calculus II | MATH 31B — Integration and Infinite Series | 5 |
| MATH 263 — Calculus III | MATH 32A — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 263 — Calculus III | MATH 32B — Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
| MATH 270 — Linear Algebra | MATH 33A — Linear Algebra and Applications | 3 |
| No Pierce match | MECH&AE 82 — Mathematics of Engineering | — |
| EGD TEK 101 — Engineering Graphics with CAD | MECH&AE 94 — Introduction to Computer-Aided Design and Drafting | 3 |
| PHYSICS 102 + PHYSICS 101 + PHYSICS 103 — Physics for Engineers and Scientists II + Physics for Engineers and Scientists I + Physics for Engineers and Scientists III | PHYSICS 1A, PHYSICS 1B, PHYSICS 1C, PHYSICS 4AL, PHYSICS 4BL | 15 |
| ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | ENGCOMP 3 — English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENGLISH 102 or ENGL C1001 or PHILOS 005 — College Reading and Composition II | English composition courses (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 216 — Object-Oriented Programming in C++ | COM SCI 31 — Introduction to Computer Science I (choose 1) | 3 |
| ENG GEN 122 — Programming and Problem-Solving in MATLAB | C&EE M20 — Introduction to Computer Programming with MATLAB (choose 1) | 3 |
| CS 114 or CS 216 — Programming in C | Computer programming courses: C, C++, Java or Matlab (choose 1) | 3 |
| No Pierce match | EC ENGR 100 — Electrical and Electronic Circuits (recommended) | — |
| ENG GEN 220 — Electrical Circuits I | EC ENGR 110L — Circuit Measurements Laboratory (recommended) | 4 |
| No Pierce match | MECH&AE 101 — Statics and Strength of Materials (recommended) | — |
| No Pierce match | MECH&AE 102 — Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies (recommended) | — |
| ENG GEN 151 — Materials of Engineering | MAT SCI 104 — Science of Engineering Materials (recommended) | 3 |
Courses with no equivalent must be taken at UCLA after transfer. Factor this into your first-year course plan.
General Education
Foundation GE at Los Angeles Pierce College
UCLA's Mechanical Engineering program uses its own GE pattern (see note below), but these five Los Angeles Pierce College courses cover foundation requirements every UC accepts. Start here.
ANATOMY 001
Introduction to Human Anatomy
CHEM 051
Fundamentals of Chemistry I
A S L 003
American Sign Language III
ENGL C1000
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1001
Critical Thinking and Writing
| Area | Course at Los Angeles Pierce College | Units |
|---|---|---|
Life Science | ANATOMY 001 — Introduction to Human Anatomy | 4 |
Physical Science | CHEM 051 — Fundamentals of Chemistry I | 5 |
Humanities | A S L 003 — American Sign Language III | 4 |
English CompositionCCN | ENGL C1000 — Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
Critical ThinkingCCN | ENGL C1001 — Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
UCLA Mechanical Engineering: full GE notes
No Cal-GETC or IGETC is required for Samueli admission; a partly finished one is rejected outright, and UCLA gives no recommendation to pursue it.
Six semesters from MATH 240 through physics
MATH 240, then MATH 260, 261, 262 and 263, then PHYSICS 103: six semesters minimum. Falling behind anywhere in that run pushes physics past the spring deadline before transfer.
Pierce semesters, UCLA quarters
Pierce runs on semesters and UCLA on quarters, so credit doesn't divide evenly. MATH 263, a single Pierce course, is ASSIST's match for both UCLA's MATH 32A and MATH 32B.
Preview
Your First Semester
A preview of what Transfermatic generates — exact courses, in the right order, every semester.
Watch Out
Common Mistakes for This Transfer Path
MECH&AE 82 has no Pierce equivalent
ASSIST lists nothing at Pierce for MECH&AE 82. It isn't on UCLA's screening list, but UCLA says prep should be finished by the end of spring before fall enrollment. It's separate from MATH 270, Pierce's linear algebra course, which covers MATH 33A.
CAD comes from one design course
EGD TEK 101, Engineering Graphics with CAD, covers MECH&AE 94 by itself and has no listed prerequisite, so it fits in your first semester alongside ENGL C1000.
Physics is the longest chain, not math alone
MATH 240 leads through MATH 263, then PHYSICS 103 adds a sixth semester on top of that math run. Start the math sequence your first semester to keep physics on schedule.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What classes should I take at Pierce for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
MATH 261 through 263 for calculus, MATH 270 for linear algebra, CHEM 101/102, PHYSICS 101 through 103, EGD TEK 101 for CAD, ENGL C1000, and CS 216 or ENG GEN 122 for programming.
Does Pierce cover UCLA's differential equations requirement?
No. ASSIST lists no Pierce course against MECH&AE 82, Mathematics of Engineering, the one required course among 11 without a match. It isn't one of the courses UCLA screens applicants on, but UCLA says prep should be finished by the end of spring before fall enrollment.
What does Pierce cover for UCLA Mechanical Engineering?
10 of the 11 required courses, including CAD through EGD TEK 101 and the full physics and chemistry sequences. Only MECH&AE 82, Mathematics of Engineering, has no Pierce match.
What GPA and admit rate does UCLA Mechanical Engineering require?
A 3.4 minimum transferable GPA is required to apply, and UCLA's Samueli School admitted 12% of all 2025 transfer applicants to the major.
Explore More
Related Transfer Plans
Los Angeles Pierce College students working toward Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles can complete 10 of UCLA's 11 required prep courses at Pierce, including calculus through MATH 263, CAD through EGD TEK 101, and the full chemistry and physics lines. MECH&AE 82, Mathematics of Engineering, is the one course with no Pierce match on ASSIST, and UCLA wants prep done by spring before you enroll. UCLA's Samueli School admitted 12% of 2025 transfer applicants to the major. Transfermatic can plan around that gap ahead of transfer.
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